“I’m just being honest.” Have you ever heard someone say this? In some cases this is good. It is difficult to work in an environment where you have to guess what people are thinking. A bit of honesty goes a long way. As leaders however, we must do more than just be honest. In fact, I have met people who state their opinions openly, without regard for others feelings or opinions. They seem to be lacking a filter. I am not criticizing them on this point, but I have found one thing particularly fascinating about some of these people. Somehow I know very little about them. How is this possible?…

“I didn’t do it.” This is a common response for me when something goes wrong. Whether it be at home or at work, I want to throw up my hands, shift responsibility and even complain about someone else. I didn’t do it, after all. When I do this, I become a victim with no course of action. If I had nothing to do with the problem, I can do nothing about it. In reality, usually I play a role in the situation and some (or all) of the responsibility is mine. What I need to do, is to own up to my part and learn from my mistakes. Some good…